On Tuesday, Mbappe fulfilled his childhood dream of joining Real Madrid, making his debut to a full Bernabeu stadium.The French star signed with the club in July after his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expired.
His official introduction was postponed due to France’s participation in the European Championships, where they were eliminated in the semi-finals by eventual champions Spain.
Addressing the crowd, Mbappe expressed his long-held ambition to play for Real Madrid. The 25-year-old shared, “I spent countless nights dreaming of the day I would wear the Real Madrid jersey, and today I am overjoyed. My family is also delighted; I could see my mother in tears.”
“It’s an amazing day for me. I’ve dreamed of this moment since I was a child, and it holds immense significance for me.”In fact, Mbappe’s presentation drew a crowd comparable only to Cristiano Ronaldo’s when he joined Real Madrid from Manchester United in 2009. Mbappe appeared in the club’s new home kit and spoke to the audience in Spanish.
Introducing Mbappe to the Real Madrid supporters, club president Florentino Perez expressed, “The love you’ve had for Real Madrid and your identification with this club since childhood have made it possible for you to be here and overcome the obstacles on your path to this dream.”
Mbappe’s arrival follows three years after Real Madrid’s unsuccessful £137 million bid for the player. Despite being offered a contract extension at PSG, where he scored 256 goals in 308 appearances, Mbappe chose to fulfill his contract with the club.
